Host of new restaurants planned to open in the Corridor in 2019

Local Pour owners Tim Kindl and Justin Zehr are reflected in one of the mirrors that will be used in the decor as remodeling continues on their new venture Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Ave. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The location is the former Dick’s Tap and Shake Room. Local Pour owners Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl are opening the bar and eatery. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)A lighted sign that was found in the basement and has been repurposed to read MOCO as remodeling continues at Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Ave. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The location is the former Dick’s Tap and Shake Room. Local Pour owners Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl are opening the bar and eatery. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)Justin Zehr talks about a lighted sign that was found in the basement and has been repurposed to read MOCO as remodeling continues at Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Ave. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The location is the former Dick’s Tap and Shake Room. Local Pour owners Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl are opening the bar and eatery. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)Lion statues found by Tim Kindl will be used in the decor as remodeling continues at Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Ave. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The location is the former Dick’s Tap and Shake Room. Local Pour owners Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl are opening the bar and eatery. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)Local Pour owners Tim Kindl (left) holds up drapery material as he and Justin Zehr as remodeling continues on their new venture Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Ave. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The location is the former Dick’s Tap and Shake Room. Local Pour owners Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl are opening the bar and eatery. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)Remodeling continues at Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar, 1602 E Avenue NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The location is the former Dick’s Tap and Shake Room. Local Pour owners Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl are opening the bar and eatery. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

The forecast for dining in the Corridor in 2019 is a good one. Several new restaurants and bars are under construction, with opening dates anticipated in coming months. Here are a few places we’re looking forward to.

This list isn’t comprehensive: if you know of a place coming soon that we’ve missed, email alison.gowans@thegazette.com. And watch this space for individual features on new restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and more as the year continues.

Lost & Found spirits and Provisions

69 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

Joel Kane, the former owner of Bata’s (or Beta’s, as it was renamed), is working on his next venture, Lost & Found Provisions. Though he originally planned to open in Marion, he has since relocated the restaurant to Czech Village. The concept includes charbroiled burgers, comfort foods and unique craft cocktails.

Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar

1602 E Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

Justin Zehr and Tim Kindl opened Local Pour & Street Food in March and didn’t wait long to plan their next venture. They’re working to renovate the bar that previously housed Dick’s Tap & Shake Room and Mahoney’s (RIP to them both). They hope to open Moco Game Room & Hot Dog Bar in February. The games will include pool, foosball, darts, shuffleboard and others, along with board games. The hot dogs will be cooked on rollers and come with a variety of toppings. The space also will feature a bar. The name, Moco, is a nod to nearby Mount Mercy and Coe Colleges.

“We kind of just want approachable, fun things,” Zehr said.

The Rewind

415 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids

We don’t have many details on this bar yet, beyond that it will be an ‘80s themed bar and will be in the downtown Sokol building, which most recently housed Backpocket Pilot Pub. Bring on the big hair and shoulder pads and turn up Prince and Michael Jackson on the sound system.

Rodina

1507 C St. SW, Cedar Rapids

The Czech Village will soon have a Czech-inspired restaurant. Phoebe and Samuel Charles plan to open Rodina this winter in the location last occupied by Sauce. Rodina means family in Czech, and true to that ethos they plan to serve “family-style, Midwest comfort food.”

Tap ‘N Tacos

808 Fifth St. #8, Coralville

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Coralville will have a new taco-focused eatery when Henry Herrera opens Tap ‘N Tacos. He hopes to open the doors this month.

“Beer and tacos, they’re just two things that go well together,” he said. “You really can’t go wrong with that combination.”

La Vecina

211 E. Ninth St., Coralville

Mexican food will meet wood-fired oven with La Vecina, the newest restaurant from Sam Hall and Ravi, Raj and Sajni Patel. According to a news release, “The La Vecina menu will feature fresh heirloom tortillas, fire roasted vegetables and main dishes, and seafood elements, such as fresh ceviche and a whole fish. While local farmers and butchers will provide most ingredients when available, some key ingredients will come from Mexico, including heirloom corn, spices, peppers and spirits. The bar will include both traditional and modern interpretations of classic cocktails, heavily influenced by mezcal, tequila and sotol. “

The Patels and Hall also co-own Marquee Pizzeria, another wood-fired restaurant in Iowa River Landing, though it serves pizza instead of tacos, as well as downtown Iowa City cocktail spot Clinton Street Social Club.

The re-imagined Devotay

117 N. Linn St., Iowa City

Though longtime Iowa City staple Devotay closed after a final New Year’s Eve dinner, owners Mark and Jade Paterno plan to reopen the restaurant under a new name and concept later this month. In November, Jade Paterno told The Gazette they plan to serve, a “traditional appetizer, entree, dessert” menu focused on “elevated and eclectic American food, borrowing from a lot of styles.”